Android - Better Experience over iPhone

[djk]

Google releases a new gmail app for Android. Sadly, it only runs on Froyo. As a result, many Android users who have handsets with no upgrade path to Froyo are upset.

Android fragmentation FTW!

http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2010/09/updated-gmail-app-in-android-market.html

Some choice quotes:

Brian Douglas Hayes said...

So, let me get this straight: There's a new, standalone version of Gmail which finally solves the problem for those of us who have Android devices no longer eligible for OS updates...

...but it requires the most current version of the OS?

Oh, boy. Face, meet palm.

(T-Mobile G1 here, still under its two-year contract, still stuck at Android 1.6 officially)

September 21, 2010 12:04 PM

Tohrno said...

Why is it just for android 2.2 ? x(((((

there is A LOT of phone with older android (1.6 -> 2.1) and it not supported ?

well thanks....
we haven't enough with the phone constructor who don't want upgrade some phone, and now some basic application most used like gmail....

September 21, 2010 1:09 PM

labarks said...

I was so excited when i saw this on the Gmail login page that maybe I finally be able to copy text from Gmail (which works with the other Mail app) only to have my dream crushed because the "Gmail updates aren’t tied to Android version releases anymore" is only true if your carrier has released an update for Android 2.2 which was only released 4 months ago. So much for having a "brand new" HTC Aria from AT&T with Android 2.1 on it. Doesn't Google read their own pie chart?

http://developer.android.com/resources/dashboard/platform-versions.html

Platform API Distribution
Android 1.5 3 12.0%
Android 1.6 4 17.5%
Android 2.1 7 41.7%
Android 2.2 8 28.7%

I can understand if they don't want release it to the 29.5% on 1.x, but not all of 2.x?

September 24, 2010 9:58 AM

Mr. Jerry Meyer said...

Agree with many posters. A shame that upgrading can't happen for those of us with G1s (stuck at 1.6) that we bought less than a year ago. While I can appreciate that there are (I assume) related hardward issues, we're just waiting out the next 15 months or so. And in the meantime we drool every time we see one of those posted (like on Gmail today) especially those of us who are pretty partial to Google/Android usage.

And while we're at it, a good Google-produced Google Docs app wouldn't kill you either, even though there are other good ones on the market. Maybe you could let more of us into the "building blocks" system for apps making?

September 21, 2010 11:15 PM

Kevin Krouse said...

"[...], so Gmail updates aren’t tied to Android version releases anymore." and "The Gmail update requires Froyo (Android version 2.2),[...]" just makes absolutely NO sense.

I will never buy an HTC sense powered android phone again, damn it!


+1. The delays with upgrading my HTC Hero to 2.1 were bad enough, but this makes me not want to buy Android again.

September 21, 2010 2:23 PM